Durbin, who has tried several times to pass the DREAM Act over the last five years, was handed another defeat when he fell eight votes short of the 60 needed to proceed with the bill.

The Senate has already rejected the bill three times this year as a part of comprehensive immigration reform proposals. The measure would provide green cards to illegal aliens under the age of 30 who have lived in the United States for five years and are enrolled in college or have served in the “uniformed services” for two years. “Uniformed services” applies to organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well as the military.

As written, the DREAM Act does not include any language to enhance national security and would, according to the Migration Policy Institute, make at least 1.3 million illegal aliens eligible for green cards.

Other estimates, using data from the 2007 Census Bureau, predict up to 4.4 million undocumented persons could obtain green cards under this law.

To ramp up support for the bill, Durbin held a press conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon with two illegal alien college students and one who had obtained permanent legal status.

In retaliation, GOP presidential candidate Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.), who campaigns aggressively on border enforcement, asked Capitol Police and immigration officials to arrest the undocumented students.
“Just because these illegal aliens are being used for political gain doesn't mean they get immunity from the law," Tancredo said in a statement. "If we can't enforce our laws inside the building where American laws are made, where can we enforce them?"

Officials declined to take action against the students.

Brian Darling, director of Senate relations for Heritage, said Durbin’s press event was a part of the Democrats’ larger strategy to “play the kid card.” He likened it to the decision made last month by Democratic leadership to use 12-year old Graeme Frost in their standoff with President Bush over expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.